Pulling Up a Seat

It seems like it's been a long time since I was able to just sit down and write to those of you who have supported the blog.  Again, I want to say thank you.  Recently, I had to devote a lot of time to writing and the development of my latest book More Than Words that will be released near the beginning of next month and other literary projects I am working on.  But I'm back!  www.facebook.com/morethanwords563

So don't think that in the time away from Eat.Drink.Live. that I have not been preparing for my return.
Let's go back into time I supposed.  There is so much to share.

I actually feel like most people don't hear enough about the sharing of good meals and good times.
Over the past week it wasn't just about commemorating the anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, it was about celebrating birthdays and the importance that people mean to me by sharing with the a meal and my time.  We all know that time is the most valuable thing in our lives and eating helps to sustain us and provides a time to reflect on the past and contemplate the future.  It is a time honored tradition across the globe and across societies.

COMING SOON!

NEW EAT.DRINK.LIVE. COMING SOON!!!!

Agora the Center of Civic Life

Hello and I hope you all are eating well, drinking amazing things and living life to the fullest.  It is my honor and pleasure to thank you all for reading Eat.Drink.Live.  I am truly appreciative.  We are quickly approaching 1,500 views in just these few short months.  Keep reading and checking out what we have for you.  Most recently I had the opportunity to get out of the inexplicable cold weather rush most of the United States was experiencing and get the wonderful sun of southern California on my face.  While there I was able to partake in some of their eats, drinks and experience a little living.

So we sent out the signal and had a few takers at the bar.
There were a few people from all over I sampled some quality service and quality food of the Reserve at Agora Churascaria, which is also known as the agora or "the center of civic life" in ancient Greece.

A classy joint with some of the most flavorful meats I have tasted anywhere.  Similar to a well-known favorite Fogo de Chao, this place smelled of deliciousness as soon as I hit the door.  The thoroughly attractive hostess of some not so easily distinguished cultural heritage greeted me promptly upon entry.  The atmosphere was relaxed, but energetic.  Small parties and large ones sprinkled the dining room where tables where placed perfectly.

As soon as I sat I needed to drink, so I ordered what you see the remnants of to the left, an Original Caipirinha.  The national cocktail of Brazil was delicious and made from authentic Cachaca, the most commonly drank alcoholic beverage in the country, the product of fermented sugarcane juice.  As usual, derived from some cure for the sick of Spanish flu.  A friend just got back from Brazil and I know that more Cachaca is in my future and Rio just got bumped up a coupe of notches on my list of destinations.  No wonder we call drinks medicine (a common origin for most great drinks). Speaking of medicine.  I think some of my readers probably need some how the weather has been treating us.

No wonder this place was voted one of the Best of L.A. in 2011.  The service itself had me from the beginning, but my servers kept coming back with some of the best.  They even asked if there was something they hadn't brought out that I might like to try.  Of course there was.



Agora wasa great stop, good food, great drinks and an amazing atmosphere for locals and travelers alike.  Stock brokers, artists, couples, singles, and those just looking to eat, drink and live should definitely add this to your list if you get the chance to visit the area.  I would have loved to make it to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, but I just didn't have time.  LOL!

Peer Pressure

Sometimes you just want to do something really big and extravagant.  Sometimes you want to do something simple and subtle.  And if you and one of your crew doesn't have a seafood allergy of any kind it's nothing like a fried platter from one of the best seafood places around.

You don't want to end up somewhere the food is sub par, the service seems bothered that you came, and almost everything is a disappointment.  I speak from experience.  Some places make you want to be Six Feet under rather than visit the place.

On the other hand, there are some places that make you never want to leave.  The name might be weird and cajun, but everything from the front door to when you walk out has always been impressive at any location you visit.  On the latest visit during a gathering with one of my dearest Colombian friends I scarfed down a delicious seafood platter that consisted of some of most delectable selections of variety.

Everything was fried perfectly and who cared about the calories and whatever else.  The succulent and robust pieces of tilapia, butterfly shrimp, blue crab cakes, stuffed shrimp, stuffed crab and crawfish glistened on the plate.  Don't forget the fries (which I have been trying to remove from my diet all together).  And every time a server greeted me it was with a smile.  I know my consistent need for a refill of my beverage kept them busy.  Their quality service was rewarded with a sizable tip, of course.

I had been in the laboratory during the latest Meet Me at the Bar locations with various "brown" drinks.  I thought I had some with a Hennessey and lemonade mixture, that I just wasn't able to get right anywhere until I got here as well.  Homemade southern style lemonade was what I needed.  Not too sweet like kool-aid, not bitter like some fast food restaurants.  It was delicious.  A little bit more than a splash and I was good to go.  Although my recent high regard for bourbons and cognacs have made me decide that if I plan on mixing, it won't be with the good stuff.  That needs to be sipped on the rocks alone.  Out of respect.

So remember don't be surprised as we continue our tour.  I hope everyone enjoyed the start of the new year.  Nothing changed too much around here.  Continuing to keep you informed and updated on some great things and don't forget to eat, drink and live. Don't be one of those watching and wondering too much.  Until then, you can....

Tiny Tacos Tantric Beverages and More...

It's hard to tell sometimes when things are forced with some people.  People are always putting up these walls for themselves and not embracing who they really are on so many levels.  Occasionally, it might be good to get in touch who you are deep down inside if you aren't already.  To some degree society slowly removes parts of who people are from them voluntarily or involuntarily.  The programming kicks in sooner for some than others and for some it never does.  Some people just take bits and pieces of the programming as they choose that work best for them to LIVE!

So in honor of those people that push the envelope and live!  Those that define within some quality parameters that you can EAT.DRINK.LIVE like nobody's business let's toast to them.  And let's do it again and again and again!  But please don't do it over some Tiny Tacos.

A group of friends and I got together to just hang out and celebrate life and in a way the glorious road ahead. This new establishment (remodeled and renamed old spot) took the name on of Suite.  The atmosphere and ambiance were still as incredible as it was before the changes, the servers were much improved.  Yet, some things just could have been left alone.  Like the tiny fish tacos (salmon) one person had.   A couldn't even muster the courage to send them shits back, they sounded so good, tasted ok, and cost waaaaaaay to much!  But the rest of us definitely made up for it.  Valuable lesson learned.  Sometimes you just have to be adventurous and send some shit back!

Worth $15??

I was so glad that the pregame included some Tantric favorites of mine like delicious crab cakes and a sexy fish dish that had my tastebuds doing things my mother might not approve.  Teamed up with some flavorful starters sandwiched between good company might have made for some good erotica.  So instead somebody sent these mussels back. "They weren't done".

I just wanted to taste them, but I decided to leave my ignorance at home instead of trying to eat them and letting somebody else pay for them.  LOL.  On the flip side though, this pork chop didn't last long on the table.  It was pretty good from all accounts.  Clearly, I was unable to taste not even one bite and not a damn soul offered one either.  I wasn't made at them.  Might be worth a try next time, especially with those great "fresh looking" green beans hidden behind them and those plump baby potatoes.

As you know I can't stand to do one without the other so to make it all good I went to an old favorite to close out the white for a little while.  So we #poured.  A couple of times if I haven't already mentioned that.  And then we did it again.

Thought it was Tito's coming and it turned out to be Ketel One!!!

But there was nothing like the way I actually started my evening of with like quality conversation about some of the current topics of life and the world and just growth in general like a sexy perfectly named Tantra Karma.  Sounded like and tasted like the kinda life I hope to attain.  It's kinda of a nirvana-type state like the drink tastes.  Refreshing as lemonade (like it looked), flavorful, exciting, interesting with a little kick leaving you wanting more.  It's like what I expect from every experience and person I allow in my life.  What about you?

So EAT. DRINK. LIVE. and make sure you do it with people that add something to your world!!! Remember #whosaidyoucantlivelikethis ?  You might not enjoy it all, but make sure you get something from it all.  Shoutout to DJ SNS for providing the soundtrack for the evening.  Always good to dance a little to some of the best music.  

Thanksgiving Recap...Meet Me At the Bar

I decided to forgo all the Thanksgiving hoopla and bullshit.  Most people were eating good and feeling their bellies, as was I.  But I wanted to devote that time completely to family and punish myself with thoroughly working off those calories and upping my water intake.  Don't forget to hydrate!  Water!  Water!  Water!
So in honor of that and those who are not able to Eat.Drink.Live the way they want to I have been on a "water only" beverage for the past 24 hours and it feels good.  I may revisit it after the first of the year for longer period of time.

But again tonight we will be sending out the signal (see below) as the tour continues!  Meet Me at the Bar is a tour I have started that will take me all across these United States over the next year and across the globe #jetsetter.  So continue to stay tuned and thank you for continuing to read my blog.  We have gotta a great response of readers who check us out consistently.

So when I come to your city, be sure not to be shy!  When we lock in more dates for 2014 we will be publishing a schedule for any and everyone to come join!

So your eyes open for some of the best, new and old concoctions by the best mixologists around.  Headed out to another spot tonight!  See you soon!

Chopped and Scurvied

Over the past week or so I have indulged in a high protein, high meat diet to compliment my visits to the gym.  You have to maintain a balance with this Eat.Drink.Live.  It might easily get out of hand for some.  Moderation in MOST things.  So when I got a chance to have a delicious selection of Rack of Lamb with saffron cous cous, sauteed garlic spinach, pomegranate & mint demi glazed.  Sounds fancy, right?  But it was a simple hardy meal, but they could have kept the cous cous this time around.  I would have much rather had the lamb paired with their spinach and ginger risotta.  And lamb should always be prepared medium by standard, not medium rare.  The meat isn't as delicate as people try to make it be.  It is usually stingy to the bone, and even more so when not cooked long enough due to the cut of meat being from one of the strongest part of any four-legged animal.  Once warmed up a little long to medium, it didn't disappoint.

Since I wasn't quite satisfied there, I decided to go with a trusted favorite that has been around since the early 1800's as British Navy doctors in the East Indies would use the combination of limes and other acidic fruits along with gin as a delivery method to sailors to help ward off the effects of scurvy.  My method of delivery would be a little remix with vodka versus gin.  Either way it is a tasty libation called a Gimlet (originally with gin) or a Vodka Gimlet.  Make sure to make the distinction when ordering based on your preference.

It is a great idea for a smooth drink and a great compliment to a high protein meal if you are not in the mood for wine.  The cocktail's name is one that comes from a tool called a gimlet, which is a hand tool used for drilling holes.  The gimlet beverage is a good tool for drilling holes in the tension of a day or good for breaking the ice.

Remember to drink and eat responsibly.  But always Eat. Drink. Live.